struck_out | 003 Video

003 Video

[Looks like Leon's hit the road again. The video shows him with sitting down with his back leaning back on a tree, as he practices a few simple chords on the guitar. It...looks like there's some improvement since his last video; at least he can play the simplest chord progression without error.

He strums the guitar idly, almost seemingly lost in thought before he turns to the gear and properly addresses it.]

Well it's been a great week. And by great, I mean fucking terrible. A friend woke up from one of those comas and went completely nuts because his brother died back home, and of course I had to suggest to him that he should go hang out with said brother to feel better because I didn't know what had happened. And then I pissed off the heir to the biggest and most dangerous yakuza families from my home. He's probably searching for me right now so if you see my body floatin' in the river you'll know why.

I also got fired from work 'cause I yelled at a customer but I was jus' so wound up from everythin' that happened that I jus' didn't have any fucks left to give, so if you're the one I yelled at then sorry, but you really have no business bein' a Pokemon trainer if you can't tell the difference between an Antidote and a Burn Heal. Damn things are already colour-coded, and there's a no refund policy so don't come crying to me.

So yeah. All in all it's been shit. Real shit. Just can't catch a break, can I?

Anyway, if you're watchin' this and if you're not too bored or busy...tell me somethin' funny. Or somethin' interestin'. Somethin' that makes you happy. I don't care, just...somethin' that'll be a break from this fuckin' week 'cause I am just done.

[Leon's just about to switch off the Gear, when he suddenly remembers.]

Oh yeah to everyone back at the house, sorry I forgot to leave a note but I'm leavin' for a few days, maybe weeks. Lemme know if ya need me for anythin', but other wise I'm gonna go an' grab some badges. Might be back by March. Will let you know.

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[OK, that was pretty funny. Leon laughs and shakes his head.]

That poor ol'lady. S'nice of you guys to try an' play along with her though.

[Blake's laughing too.]

We were trying to get her to leave us the hell alone. We ended up having to threaten to arrest her for nuisance calls. You wouldn't believe the kind of crap people call the police over.

You're a cop? Here, or at home? 'Cause I gotta say that while I'm likin' the look of the Jennies, it's creepy that the entire police force here shares the same face. It's a pretty face! But still creepy.

Home. They don't make the short skirts for here in my size.

I've been trying to figure out the deal with them the whole time. I figure it's plastic surgery or something.

Urgh, I really didn't need that mental image old man. Bleargh.

Anyway I don't think it really matters. S'least they do their best to look out for us.

[Blake cackles.] You're welcome.

"Their best" ain't much. What kind of criminals do you think a slap on the wrist and community service is gonna keep down? The real son of bitches don't stop til they're locked up or dead.

Fuck you.

[There's not much venom in Leon's tone; he sounds less angry and rude, and just more disgusted.]

Well if ya think about it, this whole place used to be a kid's game. What kinda punishments do you think they'd have?

Watch your damn mouth.

It was made for kids, but they're sure as hell not the only ones here now. Of course assholes are gonna abuse it, it's what assholes do. They're lucky they've never had a serial killer running around.

I'll say whatever the hell I wanna say. Got a problem with that?

I don't think Nintendo would've given the Jennys guns either. That's PG13. But nothin' really bad has happened yet though, an' none of us can die so...maybe that's why no one bothered to kill anyone here. I dunno, I don't really wanna think about it...

Yeah, I do. Show some fuckin' respect.

That's probably the smarter thing to do about a lot of shit around here. Don't think about it too much.

I'll show some when you fuckin' earn it, old man.

No need to tell me twice. I don't wanna accidentally break the place either. This shit week aside, it's been pretty chill here. It ain't perfect but I like livin' here.

I'm a cop, you little twerp. [He says that like it's the end of the story.

Blake looks around, like there's something real interesting above him. It takes a minute to admit.] There's worse places.

Weren't we jus' dissin' how bad the Jennys are? If you don't respect'em, how the hell am I supposed to respect you?

[Did you think Leon was going to let up?]

You have no idea. Compared to where I was before, this place is paradise. Here's to hopin' I never leave.

Do I look like one of them, dumbass? I'm a real cop.

[Blake's the kind of guy who functions best with opposition. He tends to be secretly disappointed when people back down.

The implications of some things he's talked about sink in.]

Where you were before...same place as Isshymaroo, huh.

So? You ain't done nothin' 'round here yet that proves it. If that's the case, then the Jennys are better cops than you are 'cause at least they're tryin' to help people.

Yeah. How much did Ishimaru tell you?

Shut your damn mouth before I shut it for you, brat. [Blake is excellent at devastating logical arguments.

His face clouds.] He told me there was a serial killer kidnapping kids.

Better calm yourself down gramps, I heard high blood pressure's a real bitch to deal with. Ya don't wanna get anymore wrinkly than you already are.

[ Ah, the joys of teasing crusty old guys. Especially if they're authority figures.]

That's...yeah, that's about right. Some sick witch kidnapped us.

I'm not taking any shit from a punk too young to buy a pack of smokes.

[It's tough to put a lot of heart into it.

He looks sharply at the screen.] 'Witch?'

[His fingers clutch tight around the phone and he hauls it closer to his face. If it's a woman, and this kid knows it, he must know something about the killer's identity.] How much do you know about the killer? Talk, kid!

[ Blake zooms in on the Gear while Leon jerks away, surprised at that outburst. For a second there's a flash of fear on his face (Did Ishimaru tell this guy everything?) before he forces a scowl on instead.]

That's none of your god damn business! If Ishimaru didn't tell you, then I'm not goin' to either.

[Blake's eyes bug half out of his head] Isshymaroo knows?!

I don't care if it's another fuckin' universe, this is important! Who are you protecting?!

If you think I'm protectin' that bitch, then I think you need your eyes and ears checked.

...Ishimaru's from before we find out who's behind it. An' even if he knew I sure as hell hope he doesn't tell you . This is private stuff, and I'm sure as hell not gonna discuss it with someone I've just met. 'Specially if he pisses me off.

Private doesn't matter when it's a sicko who should be locked up! Whether you fuckin' like me doesn't matter shit! When you know a serial killer's identity, you tell the fucking police!

[The Growlithe has dropped the ball and is watching him from a few feet away. The distant couple on a picnic blanket have turned their heads toward the shouting.]

No.

[Police or no, there's nothing Blake can do to help any of them. It's too late for Ishimaru, too late for Oowada, too late for Celes, and it's too late for Leon. Blake isn't endearing himself to Leon either, and Leon's feeling spiteful enough just to anger the older man further.]

There's nothin' you can do even if I tell you her name. An' even if she did get here, I've got a list of people that I can ask for help, an' you're not even a damn footnote. What kinda asshole accuses the victims of "protecting" the criminal anyway? The fact that you jumped to such an idiotic conclusion without any evidence makes you not only a dumbass, but also an insensitive moron who thinks he's hot shit just because he's a cop. I bet you wouldn't even know she's the killer even if she was standin' right in front of you holdin' a neon signboard above her head with the words, "I'm a fuckin' psycho bitch who tortures people for fun!" in bright pink letters.

So go fuck yourself old man. If you think you can scare me into tellin' you what you wanna know by sprayin' spit all over the gear, then all you've done is made me even more sure I'm not gonna tell you shit.

[And with that, Leon switches off the feed.]

Don't you fucking-- fuck!

[The screen goes black, and Blake flings the phone to the ground. He wants it to shatter, and all it does is bounce on the grass.

The little bastard hit home hard.

Blake wants to bit something. Somebody, and it always comes back to that same one, no matter what, the one he'll never get to.

He snarls uselessly and buries his head in his hands, locked tight in the same old rage.]

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003 Video

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